Hybrid system for vehicle provided with plurality of engine power generation modules

Abstract

A hybrid system for a vehicle having an engine and a driving motor includes a plurality of engine power generation modules for generating power with an operation of the engine, a battery for storing power output from the engine power generation modules, a plurality of driving modules for driving the driving motor for driving wheels of the vehicle by the power output from the engine power generation modules or the battery, and a control unit for selectively controlling operations of the engine power generation modules and the driving modules to match a required output of the vehicle.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A hybrid system for a vehicle having an engine and a driving motor, the hybrid system comprising:
 a plurality of engine power generation modules configured to generate power with an operation of the engine; 
 a battery configured to store power output from the plurality of engine power generation modules; 
 a plurality of driving modules configured to drive the driving motor for driving wheels of the vehicle by power input from the plurality of engine power generation modules or the battery; and 
 a control unit configured to control operations of the plurality of engine power generation modules and the plurality of driving modules according to a required output of the vehicle; 
 wherein the control unit is further configured to: 
 derive an overall engine efficiency map from an individual engine efficiency map of each engine provided in each engine power generation module; 
 determine an operation order of the plurality of engine power generation modules; and 
 derive the overall engine efficiency map where a portion at which the fuel consumption rate is inflected to increase in the individual engine efficiency map of the engine of a first-operated engine power generation module is connected to an optimal efficiency section of the individual engine efficiency map of the engine of a next-operated engine power generation module. 
 
     
     
       2. The hybrid system of  claim 1 , wherein each engine power generation module includes:
 the engine; 
 a generator driven by the engine to generate power; and 
 a converter configured to convert the power output from the generator and output the power to the battery or the plurality of driving modules. 
 
     
     
       3. The hybrid system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to:
 drive the plurality of engine power generation modules according to the overall engine efficiency map according to the required output of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       4. The hybrid system of  claim 3 , wherein the control unit derives the overall engine efficiency map by connecting the individual engine efficiency maps so that optimal efficiency sections in which a fuel consumption rate is smaller than or equal to a predetermined reference are connected to each other. 
     
     
       5. The hybrid system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to maintain an output of the engine of the first-operated engine power generation module when the required output of the vehicle increases at the portion at which the fuel consumption rate is inflected to increase in the individual engine efficiency map of the first-operated engine power generation module, and then to operate a next engine power generation module. 
     
     
       6. The hybrid system of  claim 5 , wherein the control unit is further configured to operate all of the engine power generation modules by increasing the outputs thereof when receiving an increase in the required output of the vehicle at the portion at which the fuel consumption rate is inflected to increase in the individual engine efficiency map of the engine of a last-operated engine power generation module. 
     
     
       7. The hybrid system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to change an operation order of the plurality of engine power generation modules. 
     
     
       8. The hybrid system of  claim 1 , wherein engines provided in the plurality of engine power generation modules are configured to have different displacements, and
 wherein the control unit is configured to operate the plurality of engine power generation modules according to the required output of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       9. The hybrid system of  claim 1 , wherein engines provided in the plurality of engine power generation modules are configured to have a same displacement, and
 wherein the control unit is configured to operate the plurality of engine power generation modules according to the required output of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       10. The hybrid system of  claim 1 , wherein engines provided in the plurality of engine power generation modules are configured such that engines of some engine power modules have same displacements, and engines of remaining engine power generation modules have different displacements, and
 wherein the control unit is configured to operate the plurality of engine power generation modules according to the required output of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       11. The hybrid system of  claim 1 , wherein the driving module includes:
 an inverter configured to convert a direct current into an alternating current; 
 a driving motor configured to generate a driving force; and 
 a reducer connected to an output shaft of the driving motor and configured to reduce a rotation speed of the output shaft. 
 
     
     
       12. A hybrid system for a vehicle having an engine and a driving motor, the system, comprising:
 a plurality of engine power generation modules configured to generate power with an operation of the engine; 
 a battery configured to store power output from the plurality of engine power generation modules; 
 a plurality of driving modules configured to drive the driving motor for driving wheels of the vehicle by power input from the plurality of engine power generation modules or the battery; and 
 a control unit configured to control operations of the plurality of engine power generation modules and the plurality of driving modules; 
 wherein the control unit is configured to operate each engine of the plurality of engine power generation modules with an optimum efficiency to match a required output of the vehicle; 
 wherein the control unit is further configured to:
 derive an overall engine efficiency map from an individual engine efficiency map of each engine provided in each engine power generation module; 
 determine an operation order of the plurality of engine power generation modules; and 
 derive the overall engine efficiency map where a portion at which the fuel consumption rate is inflected to increase in the individual engine efficiency map of the engine of a first-operated engine power generation module is connected to an optimal efficiency section of the individual engine efficiency map of the engine of a next-operated engine power generation module. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the control unit is further configured to:
 drive the plurality of engine power generation modules according to the overall engine efficiency map according to the required output of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the control unit derives the overall engine efficiency map by connecting the individual engine efficiency maps so that optimal efficiency sections in which a fuel consumption rate is smaller than or equal to a predetermined reference are connected to each other. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 12 , wherein engines provided in the plurality of engine power generation modules are configured to have different displacements, and
 wherein the control unit is configured to operate the plurality of engine power generation modules according to the required output of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       16. The hybrid system of  claim 12 , wherein engines provided in the plurality of engine power generation modules are configured to have a same displacement, and p 1  wherein the control unit is configured to operate the plurality of engine power generation modules according to the required output of the vehicle. 
     
     
       17. The hybrid system of  claim 12 , wherein engines provided in the plurality of engine power generation modules are configured to use a same fuel. 
     
     
       18. The hybrid system of  claim 12 , wherein engines provided in the plurality of engine power generation modules are configured to use different fuels. 
     
     
       19. A hybrid system for a vehicle having an engine and a driving motor, the system, comprising:
 a plurality of engine power generation modules configured to generate power with an operation of the engine; 
 a battery configured to store power output from the plurality of engine power generation modules; 
 a plurality of driving modules configured to drive the driving motor for driving wheels of the vehicle by power input from the plurality of engine power generation modules or the battery; and 
 a control unit configured to control operations of the plurality of engine power generation modules and the plurality of driving modules; 
 wherein engines provided in the plurality of engine power generation modules are configured such that engines of some engine power modules have same displacements, and engines of remaining engine power generation modules have different displacements; and 
 wherein the control unit is configured to operate each engine of the plurality of engine power generation modules with an optimum efficiency to match a required output of the vehicle; 
 wherein the control unit is further configured to:
 derive an overall engine efficiency map from an individual engine efficiency map of each engine provided in each engine power generation module; 
 
 determine an operation order of the plurality of engine power generation modules; and 
 derive the overall engine efficiency map where a portion at which the fuel consumption rate is inflected to increase in the individual engine efficiency map of the engine of a first-operated engine power generation module is connected to an optimal efficiency section of the individual engine efficiency map of the engine of a next-operated engine power generation module.